The Telecom Policy-94 set the ball rolling for the telecom industry in India.

With the introduction of this policy came an influx of cellular phones that completely out did the age old fixed landline phones. This policy was built on a revenue sharing model between the government and the telecom operators. The revenue that the government received from the telecom operators was in the form of spectrum charges and license fee. The telecom industry in India has witnessed a sea change over the last few decades. Gone are the days of the analog landline that took days to get installed. Technology is one thing that keeps on changing or rather getting enhanced. With the introduction of the Second Generation wireless telephony technology in India the entire country seems to have become technology savvy. After the arrival of the GSM mobile technology the concept of an analog landline has almost faded. Today you can get your number activated within minutes and talk while you are anywhere. 2G means second generation wireless telecommunication technology. 2G was first launched in Finland by Radiolinja in 1991. 2G technologies in India came as a revolution in the digital world as it introduced several new features on mobile phones like email and SMS. Cellular phones got a new meaning now talking was just one of the features of a phone. One of the major highlights of the 2G technology in phones is speed. The reason behind the speed provided by 2G phones is that they use radio signals whereas the earlier 1G technology enabled handsets used analog radio signals. The introduction of the 2G brought with it a host of benefits in the world of mobile technology. One of the biggest advantages of 2G networks over the 1G was that that phone conversations were digitally encrypted. The introduction of 2G also brought a radical increase in the mobile phone users in India. Since the 2G systems were considered to be more efficient than their predecessors the mobile phone penetration levels increased in the country by manifolds. The one most important feature introduced by 2G technologies was data services like sending and receiving text messages. The major technical difference between 2G and 1G is that the radio signals used in 1G network phones are analog and the radio signals provided on 2G network phones are digital. However both 2G and 1G system connect to radio towers through digital signaling. In 2G technology several digital data streams are generally combined to make one signal. 2G networks can be categorized as (TDMA) time division multiple access or (CDMA) code division multiple access. The concept of the 2G technology in India was introduced ma to mainly facilitate voice clarity services and slow data transmission. Advantages of 2G technology in India

There are several advantages of the 2G technology in India The lower power emissions are much safer for daily usage. 2G technology makes use of digital multiplexing which actually enhances the capacity of the bandwidth to accommodate more calls. 2G handsets also have error checking features which is done with the help of digital voice encoding. The battery life of a 2G enabled handset is longer due to lower powered radio signals. 2G enabled handsets offer improved sound quality After the launch of 2G technology in India digital data services, such as SMS and email came into existence.

Introduction of 2G reduced the chances of fraud. 2 G phones are said to give far more privacy than their predecessors. The 1G phones have no protection against eavesdropping due to the use of security algorithms which are not as powerful as the radio scanners used in 2G phones.

Disadvantages of 2G technology in India One major setback of the 2G technology is that the digital signals involved in this technology are highly reliable on proximity to towers and location. The quality of a call made from a 1G handset might suffer from poor quality but it survives longer distances. 2G Technologies The technology used in 2G cell phones in India for the purpose of transferring information are; Frequency division multiple access (FDMA) Code division multiple access (CDMA) Time division multiple access (TDMA) All the three above mentioned technologies have a separate function allotted to them. The Frequency division multiple access allots each call to a different frequency, the Code division multiple access provides a unique code to each call and the Time division multiple access gives each call a time span on the appointed frequency. The 2G spectrum scam WHAT IS SPECTRUM SCAM? The 2G spectrum scam was one of the most talked about issues in 2008. The major issue behind the scam was that licenses for 2G technology were issued at throwaway prices to the private telecom players in India. Most of the people involved in this scam were ministers and government officials. The scam proved detrimental to the county's telecom industry. Thee scam costs the government a loss of ` 1.76 lakh crore. However since technology is something that keeps getting better several better and upgraded versions of the 2G have been invented like the; 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, and 4G. The 3G and 4G are the currently creating waves in the country. Internet services that come with 3G and 4G are not just restricted to SMS's and emails infact you can watch videos, chat send and send and receive quick messages and etc.

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . By definition, Strengths (S) and Weaknesses (W) are considered to be internal factors over which you have some measure of control. Also, by definition, Opportunities (O) and Threats (T) are considered to be external factors over which you have essentially no control. SWOT Analysis is the most renowned tool for audit and analysis of the overall strategic position of the business and its environment. Its key purpose is to identify the strategies that will create a firm specific business model that will best align an organization s resources and capabilities to the requirements of the environment in which the firm operates. In other words, it is the foundation for evaluating the internal potential and limitations and the probable/likely opportunities and threats from the external environment. It views all positive and negative factors inside and outside the firm that affect the success. A consistent study of the environment in which the firm operates helps in forecasting/predicting the changing trends and also helps in including them in the decision-making process of the organization. An overview of the four factors (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is given below1. Strengths- Strengths are the qualities that enable us to accomplish the organizations mission. These are the basis on which continued success can be made and continued/sustained. Strengths can be either tangible or intangible. These are what you are well-versed in or what you have expertise in, the traits and qualities your employees possess (individually and as a team) and the distinct features that give your organization its consistency. Strengths are the beneficial aspects of the organization or the capabilities of an organization, which includes human competencies, process capabilities, financial resources, products and services, customer goodwill and brand loyalty. Examples of organizational strengths are huge financial resources, broad product line, no debt, committed employees, etc. Weaknesses- Weaknesses are the qualities that prevent us from accomplishing our mission and achieving our full potential. These weaknesses deteriorate influences on the organizational success and growth. Weaknesses are the factors which do not meet the standards we feel they should meet. Weaknesses in an organization may be depreciating machinery, insufficient research and development facilities, narrow product range, poor decision-making, etc. Weaknesses are controllable. They must be minimized and eliminated. For instance - to overcome obsolete machinery, new machinery can be purchased. Other examples of organizational weaknesses are huge debts, high employee turnover, complex decision making process, narrow product range, large wastage of raw materials, etc. Opportunities- Opportunities are presented by the environment within which our organization operates. These arise when an organization can take benefit of conditions in its environment to plan and execute strategies that enable it to become more profitable. Organizations can gain competitive advantage by making use of opportunities. Organization should be careful and recognize the opportunities and grasp them whenever they arise. Selecting the targets that will best serve the clients while getting desired results is a difficult task. Opportunities may arise from market, competition, industry/government and technology. Increasing demand for telecommunications accompanied by deregulation is a great opportunity for new firms to enter telecom sector and compete with existing firms for revenue. Threats- Threats arise when conditions in external environment jeopardize the reliability and profitability of the organizations business. They compound the vulnerability when they relate to the weaknesses. Threats are uncontrollable. When a threat comes, the stability and survival can be at stake. Examples of threats are - unrest among employees; ever changing technology; increasing competition leading to excess capacity, price wars and reducing industry profits; etc.

2.

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Advantages of SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is instrumental in strategy formulation and selection. It is a strong tool, but it involves a great subjective element. It is best when used as a guide, and not as a prescription. Successful businesses build on their strengths, correct their weakness and protect against internal weaknesses and external threats. They also keep a watch on their overall business environment and recognize and exploit new opportunities faster than its competitors. SWOT Analysis helps in strategic planning in following mannera. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. It is a source of information for strategic planning. Builds organizations strengths. Reverse its weaknesses. Maximize its response to opportunities. Overcome organizations threats. It helps in identifying core competencies of the firm. It helps in setting of objectives for strategic planning. It helps in knowing past, present and future so that by using past and current data, future plans can be chalked out.

SWOT Analysis provide information that helps in synchronizing the firms resources and capabilities with the competitive envi ronment in which the firm operates. SWOT ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK

Limitations of SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is not free from its limitations. It may cause organizations to view circumstances as very simple because of which the organizations might overlook certain key strategic contact which may occur. Moreover, categorizing aspects as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats might be very subjective as there is great degree of uncertainty in market. SWOT Analysis does stress upon the significance of these four aspects, but it does not tell how an organization can identify these aspects for itself. There are certain limitations of SWOT Analysis which are not in control of management. These includea. b. c. d. e. Price increase; Inputs/raw materials; Government legislation; Economic environment; Searching a new market for the product which is not having overseas market due to import restrictions; etc.

Internal limitations may includea. b. c. d. Insufficient research and development facilities; Faulty products due to poor quality control; Poor industrial relations; Lack of skilled and efficient labour; etc

Difference Between 1G, 2G, 2.5G, 3G, Pre-4G and 4G

by BLO GSO LVE on MAY 15, 2011

1G is the first generation cellular network that existed in 1980s. It transfer data (only voice) in analog wave, it has limitation because there are no encryption, the sound quality is poor and the speed of transfer is only at 9.6kbps. 2G is the second one, improved by introducing the concept of digital modulation, which means converting the voice(only) into digital code(in your phone) and then into analog signals(imagine that it flys in the air). Being digital, they overcame some of the limitations of

1G, such as it omits the radio power from handsets making life more healthier, and it has enhanced privacy. 2.5G is a transition of 2G and 3G. In 2.5G, the most popular services like SMS (short messaging service), GPRS, EDGE, High Speed Circuit switched data, and more had been introduced. 3G is the current generation of mobile telecommunication standards. It allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and offers data rates of up to 2 Mbps, which provide servcies like video calls, mobile TV, mobile Internet and downloading. There are a bunch of technologies that fall under 3G, like WCDMA, EV-DO, and HSPA and others. In Telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards. In 2008, the ITU-R organization specified the IMTAdvanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced) requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users) A 4G system is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure allIP based mobile broadband solution to laptop computer wireless modems, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Facilities such as ultra-broadband Internet access, IP telephony, gaming services, and streamed multimedia may be provided to users. PRE-4G technologies such as mobile WiMAX and Long term evolution (LTE) have been on the market since 2006 and 2009 respectively, and are often branded as 4G. The current versions of these technologies did not fulfill the original ITU-R requirements of data rates approximately up to 1 Gbit/s for 4G systems. Marketing materials use 4G as a description for LTE and Mobile-WiMAX in their current forms.

2G, 3G, Next-G, 4G - What's the difference?

In this guide we're going to cover off the major differences between the different 'generation' networks and check out some of the technical aspects of the different technologies. You'll need to have some understanding of basic technological terms like megahertz. To make it easier we will link some of the terms back to our Understand the Jargon page. Before we start: What exactly is a 'G' or 'Generation'? In a nutshell, each Generation is defined as a set of telephone network standards, which detail the technological implementation of a particular mobile phone system.

1G - Analog
Introduced in 1987 by Telecom (known today as Telstra), Australia received its first cellular mobile phone network utilising a 1G analog system. The analog network was responsible for those bulky handheld 'bricks' that you might have had the displeasure of using and your wallet the displeasure of buying (originally retailed at around $4250). The technology behind 1G was the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) network. Permanently switched off at the end of 1999, AMPS was a voice-only network operating on the 800MHz band. Being a primitive radio technology, AMPS operated in the same manner as a regular radio transmission, much like your UHF radio where the 800MHz band was split up into a number of channels (395 voice, 21 control) via FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). Each channel was 30KHz wide and could support only one user at any time, meaning that the maximum number of mobile phone users per cell tower was 395. The tower assessed the signal strength of each user and assigned channels dynamically, ensuring that channels could be reused by multiple towers without interference. Problematic? Yes, and not just a limited number of users.. Just like your UHF radio, anyone with a radio scanner capable of receiving/transmitting on the 800MHz band could drop in on your call. Being analog, the 800MHz band was also susceptible to background noise and static caused by nearby electronic devices. However the simplicity of the AMPS design meant it did have one advantage over later 2G networks - coverage. An AMPS user could connect to a cell tower as far as the signal could be transmitted (often >40km depending on terrain). At its peak, the 1G network had around 2 million subscribers.

2G - Digital
Fast forward to 1993 Telecom, now known as Telstra, introduces the digital network. The introduction came about to overcome many of the issues with the AMPS network highlighted above, with network congestion and security being the most important two motivators. With this new technology came many of the services we now take for granted - text messaging, multimedia messaging, internet access, etc, and also introduced us to the SIM card. This fancy new digital network is called GSM - Global System for Mobile Communication, and its technological backbone of choice is TDMA (similar to FDMA). The radio frequency band utilised by GSM is the 900MHz spectrum and later introduced on the 1800MHz band. So how is this network any better than AMPS? The secret lies in TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access. The FDMA component splits the 900MHz (actually 890MHz to 915MHz) band into 124 channels that are 200KHz wide. The

'time' component then comes into play in which each channel is split into eight 0.577us bursts,significantly increasing the maximum number of users at any one time. We don't hear a 'stuttering' of a persons voice thanks to the wonders of digital compression codecs, which we're not going to go into here. Aside from more users per cell tower, the digital network offers many other important features: - digital encryption (64bit A5/1 stream cipher) - packet data (used for MMS/Internet access) - SMS text messaging - caller ID and other similar network features. Problems? You bet. Unlike its AMPS predecessor, GSM is limited severely in range. The TDMA technology behind the 2G network means that if a mobile phone cannot respond within its given timeslot (0.577us bursts) the phone tower will drop you and begin handling another call. Aside from this, packet data transmission rates on GSM are extremely slow, and if you're on Vodafone/3/Virgin/Optus you've probably had first hand experience on this when you go outside your networks defined 'coverage zone'. To overcome these two problems we're going to introduce two new networks - CDMA and EDGE.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. This branch of 2G was introduced by Telstra in September 1999 as a replacement for customers who could receive a good signal on AMPS, but were outside GSM's limited range. The extended range is achieved by removing the 'time' based multiplexing with a code-based multiplexing. A lower frequency band (800MHz) also assisted in range by reduced path loss and attenuation. Picture a room full of people having conversations - under TDMA each person takes their turn talking (ie time division), conversely CDMA allows many people to talk at the same time but is the equivalent of each person speaking a different language, ie in a unique code. This of course isn't exactly how it works, if you want to know more there are some resources at the bottom of the page.

EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution. GSM introduced a GPRS based packet data network in 2001, with a max speed of around 60-80kbps (downlink), equating to a download speed of 10kB/s - slightly faster than dial-up. EDGE was later introduced as a bolt-on protocol (no new technology was required) increasing the data rate of the 2G network to around 237kbps (29kB/s).

Image: rfcafe.com

3G - The Mobile Broadband Revolution

Introducing the 2100MHz network. Three Mobile in conjunction with Telstra brought the 3G standard to life in 2005, servicing major metropolitan areas initially and over the following years expanding coverage to 50% of the Australian population. Leased out to Optus/Vodafone/Virgin, the 2100MHz combined with a 900MHz network forms the basis of all non-Telstra mobile broadband services, servicing around 94% of Australian residences. The 3G standard utilises a new technology called UMTS as its core network architecture - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. This network combines aspects of the 2G network with some new technology and protocols to deliver a significantly faster data rate. The base technology of UMTS is the WCDMA air interface which is technologically similar to CDMA introduced earlier, where multiple users can transmit on the same frequency by use of a code based multiplexing. Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) takes this concept and stretches the frequency band to 5MHz. The system also involves significant algorithmic and mathematical improvements in signal transmission, allowing more efficient transmissions at a lower wattage (250mW compared to 2W for 2G networks). The new network also employs a much more secure encryption algorithm when transmitting over the air. 3G uses a 128-bit A5/3 stream cipher which, unlike A5/1 used in GSM (which can be cracked in near real-time using a ciphertext-only attack), has no known practical weaknesses. So how is 3G faster than EDGE? UMTS employs a protocol called HSPA - High Speed Packet Access, which is a combination of HSDPA (downlink) and HSUPA (uplink) protocols. These protocols have an improved transport layer by a complex arrangement of physical layer channels (HS-SCCH, HS-DPCCH and HS-PDSCH). The technological implementation of HSPA will not be discussed here but for a basic explanation feel free to watch the below video.

The only major limitation of the 3G network is, not surprisingly, coverage. As stated earlier the 2100MHz network is available to around 50% of Australia's population and when combined with a 900MHz UMTS network available to about 94%. As expected, the higher 2100MHz component suffers far more attenuation and FSPL and is often considered a 'short range' mobile network which is why a lower 900MHz network is required to service many regional and rural areas.

Next-G - 3G on Steroids

To overcome the coverage limitations of regular 3G, Telstra introduced its Next-G network (considered a '3.5G' network) in late 2006, operating on the 850MHz spectrum. The lower radio frequency coupled with a far greater number of phone towers is responsible for Telstra's Next-G network being over twice the geographical size (around 2.2 million square km) of any other network, and servicing 99% of Australian residences. Aside from coverage, the other major selling point behind the Next-G network is its blisteringly fast network speed. Rated up to 42Mbps (up to 5.25MB/s) the network has the ability to operate faster than the theoretical maximum of most high speed cable internet services. This is the result of an enhanced packet data network - HSPA+ which was implemented in 2008 as an upgrade to large portions of the Telstra network. HSPA+ also known as Evolved HSPA, utilises Dual Carrier technology and 64QAM modulation order to deliver these high speeds. HSPA+ is responsible for the 'Elite' and 'Ultimate' series modems released in 2010, with the Elite capable of up to 21Mbps, and the Ultimate up to 42Mbps. The Ultimate series modems theoretically double the speed of the Elite device by the utilisation of Dual Carrier HSPA+. This big increase in speed is achieved by the use of dual antennas, you can think of an Ultimate modem as having two Elite modems in the one unit. Combining this technology with MIMO "Multiple In Multiple Out" architecture we can hope to see speeds increased to 84Mbps (ie doubling the 42Mbps) on the Telstra Next-G network in the near future.

Image courtesy of wikipedia

If you'd like a simple explanation of Next-G, I'd recommend this (somewhat corny) video series produced by Telstrahttp://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/nextg/index.html?vid=1

4G - LTE-Advanced
Initially available in major cities, airports and selected regional areas in October 2011, Telstra's 4G network offers significantly faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced network congestion. The 4G network is based on LTE-Advanced - 3GPP Long Term Evolution. LTE is a series of upgrades to existing UMTS technology and will be rolled out on Telstra's existing 1800MHz frequency band. This new network boosts peak downloads speeds up to 100Mbps and 50Mbps upload, latency reduced from around 300ms to less than 100ms, and significantly lower congestion. For more technical details on peak 4G speeds check out our fastest 4G speed guide. Most areas in Australia 4G has a 15MHz bandwidth and operates on the following frequency ranges: Tower Tx: 1805-1820MHz Tower Rx: 1710-1725MHz New South Wales and Victoria have a much smaller bandwidth of 10MHz and operate on the following frequencies: Tower Tx: 1805-1815MHz Tower Rx: 1710-1720MHz 4G bandwidth (ie the width of frequencies we can send and receive on) is critical in supporting high speed and a high number of users. Because in order for your connection not to get confused with someone else's, each user is allocated a small sliver of frequencies that they can transmit on and nobody else can. You'll notice this most during peak usage hours, where as more people start using the tower it will reduce the width of your (and everyone else's) sliver of frequencies, resulting in each person getting a reduced download/upload speed. Naturally this is a very simplified explanation (for more info read up on OFDMA and SCFDMA) but for our purposes

it will suffice.

When will I get 4G?

Telstra 4G is advertised as available within 5km of CBD areas and airports offering speeds between 2Mbps and 40Mbps. When launched the network was limited to major towns and cities, but since late 2011 the network has expanded to include most major regional towns, with plans to cover about 66% of the Australian population by mid2013 by deploying 1000 new base stations. The Telstra Next-G 850MHz network will no doubt remain the backbone of Australian mobile coverage, with LTE 1800MHz serving in high density residential and metro areas effectively creating a 'hybrid' network. Multi-mode and multi-frequency 4G modems such as the Telstra 320U USB allow seamless transition between 4G and Next-G networks when on the move, often a slight pause or delay is the most you'll notice when your modem switches over to the other network.

Why 1800MHz?
Given the big reduction in coverage you might be wondering why Telstra chose to deploy its 4G network on the 1800MHz band. Like most decisions the biggest factor governing the choice is money. Already licensed by Telstra, the underutilised 1800MHz network was previously used to provide 2G voice calling and text messaging services, and 2G EDGE data services (often indicated by the 'E' symbol on your phone). By converting this band from 2G over to 4G, the network can be deployed with drastically reduced cost and time to market. Instead of building new cell towers, the existing 1800MHz antennas could be swapped with antennas designed for MIMO LTE services and other hardware changes kept to a minimum. The limited choice of available mobile spectrum means that for the next few years 1800MHz will remain the band of choice for 4G services. Around 2015 the 700MHz "digital dividend" band will become available and we can expect to see a much higher performing 4G network with far greater coverage, speed and signal penetration.

What about backhaul?

With a massive increase in speed, how can the cell tower transmit and retrieve all this extra data from the Internet? Your 4G connection is only as fast as what the phone tower can provide you. Older EDGE or HSPA networks can get away with E1 or optical fibre backhaul links (ie the link that connects the tower into the wider network), but LTE services require a far more advanced Ethernet-based backhaul link. The transition from circuit-switched to packet switched (IP based) networks affords better QoS (through MPLS and other link/network layer protocols) and significant reductions in latency.

MIMO

4G uses a technology called MIMO "Multiple In Multiple Out" where your modem uses two separate antennas at once to deliver super fast speeds. Normal 3G and Next-G signals are broadcast vertically polarised, where the wave travels "up and down". LTE MIMO waves are slant polarised where each wave is rotated 45 degrees from the horizontal, mirrored so the first is at 45 degrees and the other at 135 degrees. This smart little trick is called polarisation diversity and allows your modem to distinguish two independent streams of data over the same frequency allocated by the cell tower. Because our modem has two internal antennas each responsible for receiving one stream of data, it is absolutely crucial we have two separate external antennas. We cannot use a 'Y' patch lead or some other trick to connect both ports of the modem into one antenna, nor can we connect both external antennas into one port.

It is important to know MIMO is switched on and off by the modem. The decision whether to use MIMO is negotiated with the cell tower, whereby the quality of the received and transmitted signals are assessed (a metric known as CQI). When signal strength or quality is low it's difficult for the modem to distinguish between the two data streams, so when signal levels drop below a certain threshold level, MIMO is switched off and the modem operates with only one antenna (Port 1 on Sierra Wireless modems).

fundamental of information technology by alexis leon & mathews leon

A team has come up with a new touchscreen display that doesn't require rare and expensive raw materials such as indium. Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is normally used for the wafer-thin electrode under the glass surface of a touchscreen display - it's excellent at conducting slight currents and lets the colours of the display show through clearly. Unfortunately, the stuff is in very short supply, making a readily-available alternative something of a holy grail for the industry. The US Geological Survey reckons that the world supply will be exhausted by 2020 at the latest. But the Fraunhofer team says it's found an alternative that's just as good - and vastly cheaper. Its main components are carbon nanotubes and low-cost polymers. The electrode foil is composed of two layers. One is the carrier, a thin foil made of polyethylenterephthalate PET, the same cheap plastic used for making bottles. Then a mixture of carbon-nanotubes and electrically conducting polymers is added, forming a thin film as it dries. This combination by itself isn't particularly durable, because humidity, pressure or UV light put a strain on the polymers. But the carbon nanotubes harden on the PET to anchor the electrically conducting polymers. ""he electrical resistance of our layer is somewhat greater than that of the ITO," says project manager Ivica Kolaric. "But its easily enough for an application in electrical systems." Kolaric says there are many other applications for the foil, including photovoltaic foils that could line corrugated roofs or other uneven structures.